22nd session of the High Level Committee on South-South Cooperation
27- 30 May 2025
Thank you President.
Sri Lanka aligns itself with the statement delivered by Iraq on behalf of the G77.
We look forward to contributing to the progress of shared concerns under the able stewardship of Morocco during the 22nd session of the High Level Committee.
Sri Lanka extends its appreciation for the report of the Secretary General on the Measures taken by United Nations organizations to implement decision 21/1 of the High-level Committee on South-South Cooperation, and that of UNDP Administrator.
My delegation also extends its appreciation of the work of the Office of South-South Cooperation in taking steps to mainstream South-South cooperation through the UN country teams.
Sri Lanka firmly believes in the potential and impact of South-South Cooperation as a driver of Transformation when harnessed effectively. Throughout its presidency in the 21st session, Sri Lanka sought to amplify the foundational principles of South-South cooperation—solidarity, mutual respect, and shared benefit.
It is with satisfaction that we note the increased recognition of this potential within the UN membership through its inclusion in 66 resolutions, decisions and outcome documents of the General Assembly and ECOSOC during the 21st session – as cited in the report of the Secretary General.
President,
This is a period of serious financial constraints, within the UN system, as well as within many member states. This is exacerbated by challenges to multilateralism and diplomacy.
Despite this, we are undertaking many key processes to collectively attempt to ‘rescue' the SDGs, bring them back on track for 2030, operationalising the Pact of the Future and its Global Digital Compact. We are renegotiating a new pact on Financing for Development to be adopted in June – to re-envisage an international financial system that would mitigate, if not prevent, a similar crisis. We are also working towards a renewed agreement to be adopted at the World Social Summit for Development, 30 years after the Copenhagen Declaration.
The collective voice of the global south is vital to ensure that these processes are in fact transformative and forward looking; to work towards re-imagining the system, and not just settle on incremental minor adjustment.
President,
In an environment of fragmentation of development assistance, it must be re-iterated that South-South and triangular cooperation is complementary to, not a replacement to North-South cooperation. Sri Lanka calls on developed partners to honour the Official Development Assistance (ODA) commitments, to help developing countries achieve their national development goals and internationally agreed development goals.
Sri Lanka appreciates the development assistance provided through the Trust funds under South -south and triangular cooperation, and supports the call to scale up contributions to these financing mechanisms.
President,
As a middle income country and a net food importing developing country, with limited fiscal space, sharing technologies and solutions with countries facing similar challenges is vital for Sri Lanka to achieve the SDGs and chart an equitable development path. This is particularly so in the sphere of science and technology, specially in digital technologies which would serve to amplify key deliverables of the SDGs.
In this context, Sri Lanka looks forward to engaging in the thematic discussion of this High Level Committee session on leveraging science, technology and innovation through south-south and triangular cooperation.
Thank you.